Exhibitions

The last voyage of the frigate Mercedes. A Cultural Treasure Recovered (12 June to 14 January 2015)

The exhibition, inaugurated by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Asturias on 12 June 2014, at the National Archaeological Museum and the Naval Museum, of course tells the story of treasure, but a cultural treasure whose value greatly transcends its weight in gold and silver.Salto de línea The exhibition presents a story about a particular time in the history of Spain, the history of international relations in the early 19th century, the story of a frigate on a State mission, the myriad stories of its crew, its cargo, the items that were on board…

But also, and poignantly, the exhibition tells the story of a plundering of our cultural heritage: The looting of an underwater site by a firm of "treasure hunters" whose aim was to make a profit from our past, our memory, our heritage.

It is, therefore, also the story of a successful court battle waged by Spain regarding the protection of underwater heritage, and of the fight against the unlawful trafficking of cultural property.